Social Media Screening for USA Student Visa Applications

In recent times social media has become a core part of our lifestyle. Today, we are all part of this vast networking medium. However, this exposure to the new digital era also has the flip side of threatening our safety. Therefore, the immigration authorities in many countries are now using social media as a tool for security checks.

Especially the US Consulate, which is very particular about going through the social media of immigrants. Scrutinizing the online profiles of a person gives a wide range of perspectives about the personality and habits of that person. Apart from this, it also helps to trail any underlying threat or criminal activities from that person. Once the immigrants get clearance on their social network profiles, the US Visa Council members grant them a valid US Visa.

National Security is one of the prime concerns for the US. To avoid any breach of national security, the Visa Council has mandated probing an international student’s social media presence. This allows the council to get a clear picture of the immigrant’s lifestyle, friends, and family circle, which helps them segregate and detect unscrupulous people who are linked with the underworld or terrorism. Eventually, the council will prevent any damage to the country by rejecting a visa for the suspect.

This new rule came into effect on May 31, 2019, by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). As per the guidelines of the US Visa Council, each student must provide their respective social network IDs, usernames, previous email addresses, and phone numbers that they have been using for the last five years as part of the application process. This includes the submission of Facebook IDs and details of Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube accounts.

This new rule applies to both non-immigrant as well as immigrant Visa applicants. Applicants seeking temporary Visas or adjusting their status while still staying legally in the US are exempted from this new protocol.

This new rule has affected 1.4 million Visa applicants. Now, if immigrants fail to follow the regulations, their visa request is declined. If the applicant doesn’t disclose their social network information or tries to hide or fabricate these details from the council, their action might invite legal troubles.

Strict US Visa Regulations for Some Countries

The new social media screening rule came into effect on May 31, 2019. It outlined the procedure for Visa screening and the process of selecting legitimate immigrants to the United States.

The purpose of this new rule is to closely track applicants hailing from “sensitive” zones i.e. countries that show a high level of terrorist activity. With the number of US Visa applications surging (the US State Department issued 562,976 immigrant visas in 2023), this is an effective method of management. After unfortunate terrorist activity in the past, the country is now particular and strict when it comes to the protection of its citizens.

The entire process not only aims to uncover any terrorist links of the candidate but also of their family members and friends. Authorities extensive comb through the previous 5 years of social network activity. They grant Visas only once they are satisfied with the applicant’s background and activities. This extra application step has affected over 700,00 visitor Visas, over 140,000 USA student visas and more than 380,000 employment Visa applicants.

Criticism of the New Visa Policy

This update has affected the F-1 USA student visa, the non-immigrant visa granted to international students coming to the US.

Both current and aspiring students are bound by this regulation. However, there has been much criticism of the rule, enacted by the Trump administration. Some are:

• Documents made public have reflected that this screening was not as effective as thought to be. It did not help screen out any terrorist activity. Does it then add value?
• Many view it as a breach of privacy. The government gaining access to people’s private lives is not likely to be a popular idea.
• The U.S is viewed as a haven for students and other applicants choosing to leave behind authoritarian or strict governments. This new rule forces activists to give up the online pseudonyms they may use to critique their own home states. This may threaten their security as word of this may get back to their countries.
• The First Amendment protects both people on American soil and all Americans’ freedom of speech. This Visa rule breaches applicant’s rights to express themselves and American’s right to hear them out.
• Many view this probing as a way to build a public database for identity intelligence. This raises questions about how much should governments know and to what extent surveillance exists

Donald Trump promised extreme vetting measures for visitors to the United States. Since his administration’s enactment of the policy, all social network handles are sent to the National Counterterrorism Center. Since the Biden administration, a lawsuit has been brought against this rule, and its effectiveness was also put under review and investigation. However, it still remains in effect and a ruling judge decreed that as long as there was a justification for it, the program did not need to prove effective results.

The Benefits of Social Media Screening

Even though there is criticism of the USA Student Visa rule for social media screening, we must go through its potential benefits:

1. Ensures Extensive Investigation: With its current level of scrutiny, the U.S National Counterterrorism Center’s analysts put an applicant’s social networking account record through an investigation. This helps the center to detect any suspicious activity or behavior. Going through the profiles of an individual also reveals whether their lifestyle and practices are suitable for life in the States. The highlights of the screening are as follows:
   1. The applicant and their family/friends must not be and never have been a part of any terrorist organization.
   2. There should be no trace of terrorist activities done by the applicant.
   3. The applicant should not be a part of any local criminal group or drug/trafficking rings.
   4. The individual should not have any record of direct or indirect criminal activity.
   5. The individual should not be a fugitive.

If someone attempts to morph or fabricate their IDs, the US authorities can even ban that individual’s application forever.

1. Traces Tagging Details: Since social network users tag themselves and their friends, it is easier to find out if the applicants have been associated with people who are involved with terrorism. Hence, your clean records will be an added advantage here.
2. Fast Screening Process: Social network screening speeds up the process of shortlisting students compared to other background checking processes.
3. Efficient Elimination Process: If not selected, elimination becomes easier and helps the visa council to remove those applicants who can be a threat to the national security of the United States. On the brighter side, it also makes you, a harmless student immigrant, to stay safe in this country during your study period, thus guaranteeing a safe environment.

Though social media screening can be beneficial to the US visa council, it can dilute your chances of flying abroad if you have not used social network wisely. In this regard, Indian students should be very careful while participating in social networks and leaving comments on different social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Their participation and comments may be misconstrued and misinterpreted by the council authorities, which can pose a threat to the USA student Visa application.

Conclusion

While the implementation of these strict screening norms by the United States might seem harsh, it is not uncommon for countries to build a strong network of legal systems to filter out harmful individuals.

As criminal activities have hiked significantly over the past few decades, some measures may even be necessary. If you’re a student applicant, with a little effort, you can save time and use this rule to your advantage when applying for your USA student visa.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What information do I need to provide on the US visa form regarding social networking?

Applicants have to give their usernames to social networking accounts they have used in the last 5 years. These include Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Do I have to provide my phone number for US Visa Social Screening?

Yes, the applicant has to provide their phone number. The number should be in use for at least the past 5 years.

What if I don’t have a social networking account? Will my US Visa form be rejected?

If the applicant has an old social network account, they need to inform the authority. If they never had an online account, there will be no issues. But if the applicant is found lying or falsifying their information, then their application will be rejected.

How should I prepare for the social media screening for US Visa?

Applicants must be careful about what they share on social network profiles to ensure it matches the information provided in the application. They must avoid posting sensitive content, controversial topics, and online arguments.

On what basis can I fail the social media screening for US Visa?

There can be multiple reasons why the applicant’s visa might get denied. The authority conducts an extensive investigation to ensure that the person is not involved in any sort of criminal activity or is not part of any terrorist organization.